Theatrical amusement, educational, and advertising device



w. F. POWERS lND ADVERTISING DEVI Jan, 13, 1925.

2 Sheets-Sheet` l i inl* Nr Ff Jan. 13. 3925- TLSZSZSZ VV. F. PCDVVEJQS THEATRICAL AMUSEMENT, EDUCATIONAL, ,AND ADVERTISING DEVICE Filed March 25, 1921k i 2 Sheets-Sheet "2 Patented dan, i3, iZEi.

WILLIAM F. POWERS, OF ENGLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY.

THEATRICAL AMUSEMENT, EDUCATIONAL, AND ADVERTISING DEVICE.

Application filed March 25, 1921.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. POWERS, a citizen of the United States, residing in Englewood, county of Bergen, and State of New Jersey, have invented the following new and useful Improvements in Theatrical Amusement, Educational, and Advertising Devices.

My invention consists .in a certain combination, hereinafter more fully set forth, of a phonograph record and a miniature knock-down, 'theatrical stage setting, t0- gether with movable or adjustable actorifrures therefor, said stage setting and actor figures bearing pictorial representations, designs or other insignia corresponding to the words and action of the phonograph record, and being made of cardboard of such size and contour as to be capable of compact assembly flat-wise with the record in a package ot substantially7 the dimensions now commonly used for the sale and shipment of records, so that the purchaser of such a package can unfold Yor assemble the stage settingand use the same and the movable actor-figures in demonstration or illustration of the subject of the record to which said setting refers. My invention is thus an educational as well as an amusement device, and it is likewise an effective advertisement device since by its use the seller of phonograph records can offer added inducement to the sale of records in the form of visual portrayal of their respective sub-ject matters. I am of course aware that miniature stage mechanism and actor-figures have heretofore been made and sold, but so far as I am aware, no one has previously proposed to make and correlate such mechanism with a particular theme of a phonograph record and combine the same with its said record in compact commercial package form so as to make `thereof a combination that constitutes a sales commodity having educational. recreational and advertisement advantages as above mentioned, and in which the stage setting'has a stiffening eifect and serves, as to a certainextent the figures do also, as a` protection to the record.

The invention further consists in the particular form and assembly of the part-s of the stage setting whereby it is specially suited to the combination referred to.

My invention may also be thought of as an amusement, educational and advertising appliance, comprising a phonograph record Serial N0. 455,395.

having recorded thereon for audible indication thereby subject matter susceptible of dramatic representation or illustration, and in combination therewith a visualizer or dramatizer therefor comprising a miniature knock-down stage setting' associated therewith and of an appearance appropriate to the said subject matter, and actor-figures associated with said phonograph record and constituting representations illustrative of the said subject matter, whereby to visualize or dramatize the subject matter audibly indicated by the record.

Enjoyment, especially in the case of children, in observing or hearing any dramatic performance, by which I mean the impersonation `in representative figures of the characters of any literary or musical Work, such as a story, poem, song or play, is greatly increased if they can take part in it. and my invention takes advantage of this 'tact by making the child the impressario who conducts the performance, placing the characters on the stage setting either before or during the playing of the record and moving them about as the contents of the record may require or as may suit his caprice. The child thus feels himself a part of the performance and his interest and attention are secured.

The range of music, literature and drama through which this means may be applied to increase the usefulness of the phonograph and to delight and at the same time educate the child, is very wide and includes songs, stories, games, poems, lullabies, Christmas carols, fairy tales, and the like, through the long list of the literature which has always appealed especially to children.

As pointed out, I have devised an'educational and amusement sales commodity, a compact commercial package, protecting the record by the stiftening and shielding effect of the stage setting and incorporating in common association for cooperative theatrical interpretation, the record or records. the stage setting and the actor-figures above referred to and constituting means of dramatically illustrating the theme orally presented at the same time by the record.

lVhile structural and other details, particularly in connection with the stage setting, are hereinafter described and indeed claimed, it will be understood that the value and importance of the invention are not bound up with such details but that it has Cil f resentations' ot vthe characters associated therewith `enclosed in said envelope, and

F 3 aperspectxve view ot the several members mal-ging' up the particular stage setting' ,illustrated "In l, the theatrical stage setting` made` upo't the three members A, B, C, is slioivn side by side with the phonograph l, which'is illustrated as playingthe record 2, bothibeing supported by the table top 3. The stage, setting' which is set up in position tor use'is' appropriate to the theme or contentsot the record and is shown as having; oir its back Wall or back drop artistic illustrative matter Sugg'estive 'ot the subject mfatt'er`- of the record, as indicated at 4l. This illustrative matter is often ot a rather general character especially Where it serves asis usually thecase t'or both sides ot the record. The front ofthe stage setting, the u'ingi's andV the intermediatevdrop may also be' suitably decorated. 1n the present `instance, th'e'the'me of the record is Cinderella, and the back, dropl shows' Cinderella injthe chimney corner. Otcourse a scene less'specic'ally illustrative, as one depictin Qtairies, etc` could be used. A perfect-ly plain' background/or one haring illustration o'rfdccoration of "a purely general nature is 'interesting'. i-lctor-figures"5, which I make as cutouts. oif adapted to be cut out on'liiies' indicated.' and which lconstitute representations otcharacters or objects associated with the theme or contents of the record, are shown in position on the sta-gfea'ndi-otl'iers appear on thetable1 top. They uilll'bleat once recognized as Cinderella iii her rags and' in her ballfgowvn, her step'- m'otlier, her tivo sisters, the fairy, the prince an'd courtiers. The coach and tour and the clock might also be v`represented. Obviously the number of `actor-figures may vary according to the requirementso the sub-ject mattermoi'l a given record, but eight such figures Jfor each side of a double record or site'en inn all will usually be sufficient. These figures are providedfivith means tor enabling them tostandup, as for instance. the Wingyportions 5, which may be bent as indicated toi" the purpose statech or the stage platform. or figures, or both, may he provided with other means. foremalring it possible to associate; them in appropriate relation. It. will be understood of course that' the illustrative subject matter With which the stagesettingfis providech as Well as the characters, may vary'a's Widely as the subject matter ot the record in Whose dramatic interpretation or visual representation the stage setting, tiguresand record are toco-operate. Forlexaniple, a stage setting; designed to. be associated with arecord ot Mother. Goose rhymes or.l melodies'miglit appropriately hare. on its backA droa an artistic repi sentation ot.' Mother. bose` in suitable surroundings,l the.` figures being artistically represented to illustrate the parl ticnlar lvl-other. Goose rhymes of. the record. il great variety of: alluring possibilities in this connection will ataonce occur to anyone familiar with stories, tales,` verses, etc. regarded as childre-is classics.

Furthermore. the field'. Jfrom Whichv the maker ot". phonograph records may select f themes for records is by this invention enV lai-ged, since their. visual portrayal: makes attractive `and salahleirecordsof subjectssuch tor insta-neel as bird. calls andv Bible stories-not otherwise sutiiciently interestngftorcommanda ready'marlret." lVhen the stage settinghas been set. up in position for use adacentthe. )honoo'ra ih andthe record put in'pbsition on theila'tter, thetiguresmay be laid out. on` the table` top. and some ot themI may. beV placed on. the sta-ge either. bew tore-the machina is started; or during the presentation ot the record, as this interests the operator even.itrpjroivnup and especially it'fa child; since he may, iiherpleases7 locate the {ioni-es 4cn the stage. as. the .present-ation ofthe record 'oeison and thecharacters are inentioned and may moveV theni about as alled'foruby therecord, or tosuit his whim.

'libe .stage setting.. has a knoclodouin construction, by which term Imean toincludc both structures in ivhich the parts ot. the stapje setting' are separate and,V When vscparate flat. alndlcapablefot being assembled.

andstructures in Which the stage'settingy is 'flat. or capable o'f'beinp,` folded tlatoriinto set up position.V lnpFig. A3 itirlis.illustrated asmadef up ot: three separate. members A. ByC, the memberir providing the front arch land# containing thest'ag'eopening', the member 'B consti'tutling;y the baokotth'e stage setting' andubearing artistic illustrati-ve matter appearing; as the'b'aclrdrop of the stage setting when" the Variousr members are inn set up p'osition, and :the member G forming an intermediate drop between said front and backY members. `MeansV are provided for securing' the members together releasably.

a ,suitable Vivay of doingQthis being` by'the Y slot va'nd'lug' ConnectionsillustratedlA luis convenient andeconomicalof material to provide. the front member with flaps 6` constituting originally part of the material which has to be removed to free the stage opening from obstruction and foldable about the side edges ot' the stage opening. The lines on which these flaps are to be cut and folded may be merely indicated, as indeed may be the outlines of all parts ot the stage setting, but I prefer to score the lines et told and to cut the rest ot the `tlaps tree during the manufacture of the stage setting. These iaps .in the construction shown in the drawings constitute wings in the stage setting as set up, and they and the back mem ber B are provided with separable and preterably with slot and lug` connections, the lugs 7 being illustrated in Fig. 3 as carried by the wings in pairs which correspond with slots 8 in the back member B, the slots being long enough to receive the lugs which are beveled and arranged like pairs of hinge pin tles to permit them to be moved down until the necks 9 abut against the. bottoms ot' the slots thus forming a secure but releasable connection. By what has been said, l. do not mean to suggest that the flaps need always be vertical or invariably serve as wings. A convenient and economical way ot' providing the sta-ge proper or platform l0 is to make the back member B with a flap which may be turned about its upper edge, the same being parallel with the lower edge ot the stage opening and at substantially the same height. It is convenient but not essential to utilize the'lower edge ot the stage opening as a mea-ns for supporting' the 'tree end of the flap 10 constituting the stage. Instead of being cut in advance along 'the edges which are to be tree, this flap like the others may be merely indicated by scored or printed lines for cutting out, whe-re it is thought that the child would be interested in performing this operation for himself. The back member B may have at each side a supporting wing 1l. The intermediate drop C is shown as having slots 12 adjacent its ends opening downward for interlocking with correspondingly located slot-s 13 opening upward in the top edges 0f the wing `flaps 6. The operation of this releasable connection is obvious.

F 2 shows a compact commercial package constituting an educa-tional and amusement sales commodity. In this ligure, the outer container 14 is an ordinary phonograph record outer envelope, the flap l5 ot which is shown as turned back for convenience and parts of which are broken away to show the contents, which consists of the knockdown theatrical stage setting, the ph0- nograph record of the theme of which the sta-ge setting is suggestive and which is protected thereby, and the actor-gures. Such a sales commodity is unique and has a high degree of utility and practical advantage as above pointed out,

Claims- 1. n amusement, educational and advertising device, consisting in a compact commercial phonograph record package of substantially the dimensions new conm'ionly used for the sale and shipment ot records comprising a phonograph record, a miniature theatrical stage setting suited in size tor association with a phonograph record in a coimnon package, and actor-figures constituting representations of characters rct'erred to, taking part in or otherwise asso iated with the theme or contents et the record; said actor-figures being suited in size to the stage setting` and being adapted to be placed individually in appropriate relation thereto, and said stage setting and figures being` adapted to be shipped tlat with the record and to be set up for use.

A compact commercial phonograph record package constituting an educa-tional and amusement sales commodity of substantially the dimensions now commonly used 'tor the sale and shipment ot such records and combining a phonograph record, a miniature knock-down theatrical stage setting, appropriate tothe theme of said record, and having a record-protecting eifect, and movable :cr adjustable actor-figures constituting represent-ations of characters referred to, tal-:ing part in or otherwise associated with the theme or contents of said record and assemble-d tlatwise with the record in said commercial package being adapted by their size and contour to be so assembled, said stage setting and aetor-tigures bearing pictorial representations, designs or other insignia correspoiniling to the words and action ot' the lphfen )graph record and the actor-figures thus being approliriate in appearance and size to the. stage setting, which when set up is adapted to receive said tigures in suitable relative positions to carry out the theme oi the record dramatically.

25. Means Jjor co-operative theatrical display or character representation comprising in combination, a phonograph record, a stage setting and stage properties adapted to be shipped flat and ot' light material as cardboard, said stage setting being provided with means tor supporting it in position oli use and said stage properties includingtigures constituting representations or images of characters associated with the theme ot' a phonograph record, and adapted to be placed in su it-able relation to said stage setting to interpret dramatically the subject matter of said record during or in anticipation of its performance, and both said stage setting and stage properties being suited in size tor association with each other and with the phonograph record in a common package of substantially the dimensions now used Vtor the sale and shipment of records.

4. A miniature knock-down theatrical stage setting', comprising a front member anda back member separable therefrom and means for connecting the same to forni when setv up a stagesettiiw` the tront. member providing the stage arch and opening and havingfvertical fiaps originally occupying said opening i at least in part and designed to be folded back on lines constituting the side edgesofj the stage opening to `tree said opening'- trom obstruction .and torni side Wallsy for the stage setting.

miniature knock-down theatrical stage setting lcon'iprising a front member and a backA member adapted toi-be` shipped flat, the-*front-member being] )i.ovided With 'flaps '.Voldableabout edges ot the stage opening and constituting apart ot the substance-ot the tront member adapted to heturned back out ot theAvay to provide an unobstructed stage opening and to serve as elements in the stage setting When set up, and a releasable connection between said front and back members. Y

6. A miniature knoclrdown theatrical stage settingcomprising a trent and a bach member, the front member constituting the stage archa-nd containing the stage ope/nine'. and means for releasably securing said members together in set-up relation, one of said members being provided With a hinged iiap which in ,that relation is in rear oi the stage openingl and constitutes the stage proper or platform.

7. miniature knock-down theatricalv stage setting adapted to be shipped flat and comprising.arseparate front and back, the front constituting' the stage arch and containing the stage opening and having iaps toldable around the side edges ot the stage opening' tout'orm` Wings and the back having near .its bottom a Hap 'toldable around its upper edge to torni the stage proper or platform. vSaid trontv and back having separable connections.

S. A miniature lrnoclrdoivn theatrical stage setting adapted to be shipped iiat and comprising a separate front and back, the

iront constituting the stage arch and containing the stage opening and having flaps toldalile around the. sideV edges ot the stage i open-ing so as to i'orm the stage proper or H platform, said front and back having separable connections.

9. An amusementr` educational and advertising appliance, comprising' a phonograph record having recorded thereon tor audible indication thereby subject matter susceptible ot' dramatic representation or illustration in combination with a Visualizer or drainatizer therefor comprising a miniature knock-down stage setting associated with said-phonograph record and ot an appearance appropriz'ite to the subject matter recorded on .the phonograph record tor audible indication thereby,. and actor-figures associated with said phonograph record and constitutine` representations illustrative ot the .said subject matter` whereby to visualize or dramatize the-.subject matter audibly indicated -by` the record.

10, An amusement, educational and advertising appliance, comprising a phonograph record having recorded thereon for (it)V ndible indication thereby subject matter susceptible of dramatic representation or illustration, 1n combination with a visualizcr or dramatizer theretor comprising a miniature knock-down stage setting assoj ciated with said phonogaph record and bearing representations illustrative ot the subject matter recorded o-n Vthe Vphonograph record for audible indication thereby, and actor-figures associated with said phonograph record `and constituting representations illustrative ot' the said subject matter. whereby to visualize or dramatize the subject matter audibly indicated by the record.

In testimony whereof. l have signed this specification. v

' WILLIAM POWERS. 

